Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

WD to Demonstrate First PCI Express Hard Drives at Computex 2014

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WD, a Western Digital company, and world leader in storage solutions, will be demonstrating the first PCI Express hard drives at Computex Taipei, June 3-7, 2014. Enabled with key technology partners, WD’s prototype introduces the new SATA Express interface, a form of PCI Express technology, which is offered on recently launched Intel series-9 chipset motherboard platforms. The SATA Express interface provides a roadmap for faster speeds, lower power consumption and increased flexibility for future OEM designs.

The road to the world’s first demonstration of SATA Express has been in development for almost 3 years. In 2011, SATA-IO, the group responsible for charting the future of SATA, announced that it was developing a new specification that would fundamentally change the core technology behind SATA by melding it with the more advanced PCI Express computer interface. In 2013, the SATA Express specification was announced; and just one year later, WD and selected partners have realized a prototype of what is expected to be the next generation of storage technology.

By moving to PCI Express, the industry marries the world’s most popular storage bus with the world’s most popular computer bus. This union provides a solid growth path to innovate new capability, while preserving the ability to plug legacy SATA drives into new SATA Express based computers. In another innovation, SATA Express allows cable connections with lower costs, by removing the PCI Express Sync line via SRIS (Separate RefClock with Independent SSC), which lowers the overall cable cost.

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A fellow travel and foodie blogger once told me that whenever you visit a certain place, may it be a city or a province, especially outside the country, you have to take a peek at its local market place and see what they are mostly selling. It will give you a good overview of what the people are like in many factors based on what they trade or sell.

That may be quite accurate as we would somehow know what's in popular demand in that particular place. We would get a good idea of what they patronize and would likely use, eat, drink, wear, etc. It's usually the center of most transactions "where forces of demand and supply operate, and where buyers and sellers interact (directly or through intermediaries) to trade goods, services, or contracts or instruments, for money or barter."

You would know how superstitious, religious, health-conscious, budget-conscious, and even how conservative or liberal most of the residents are just by touring their local market place. Somehow, the market place allows you to get a glimpse of its people, and for some, opens a window to what they will soon be like in the near future, unless struck by another mania or fad, a surprising unpredictable turn-of-events, or a disaster so threatening, it alters the normal progression of things.

Wazzup Pilipinas!Our parents would often tell us to study hard so we can get a good job after college, but are we really working our butts off just to work for somebody else? Is that how far our college degrees will take us? It might be worst if we land on a job that does not have any relation to our courses.

Working for a company is fine as a stepping stone, but nowadays, it's more rewarding to also be your own boss by setting up your own business and become something better than just an employee: an entrepreneur.

But setting up a business is not really something you can easily read from a book and learn instantly. You need to be extremely patient, persistent, optimistic, and have many other important attributes and qualities to become an entrepreneur. You also kinda have to feel it out and do it for yourself to experience how it really is. But why wait until you graduate from the academic world when it's more ideal to start as young as possible. If it's too late for us, then let's offer the opportunity to our kids who have the most benefit to gain if they learn about entrepreneurship as early as today.

The advocacy of the Kiddo-preneur Summer Bazaar, now on its 5th year, is centered on the idea of teaching kids the value of money. Kids see us spending all the time to buy food, clothes and other basic necessities and luxuries but we don't involve them in the process of making money. This is why a lot of Filipinos even at an older age still depend on their parents for financial stability.

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Going back to school doesn’t have to be a stressful tale or a sad story of summer’s ending. It doesn’t have to be boring either.

Make going back to school an exciting one! Dress up and express yourself with BUM Univarsitee.

BUM’s back-to-school campaign “BUM Univarsitee” encourages students and the young bloods to rise above the norm and express themselves with school-proper yet colorful and stylish fashion. School time doesn’t have to be dull and dreary so when it’s time to meet up with school friends, gear up by wearing items from the BUM Univarsitee collection.

The BUM Univarsitee collection takes inspiration from the concept of school chic fashion—a style influence that is preppy with a twist. It’s all about being school-compliant without alienating one’s individuality—a delectable combination of grunge, rebel chic, and punk. BUM incorporates the fashion trend it’s known for—color in a garment.

The campaign is about being comfortable in school, and even after-school, wearing what you like and being non-conformist in a surrounding that somehow encourages uniformity.

ToyCon PH 2014: The Epic Launch at Resorts World Manila

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The biggest pop sulture and toy event in the Philippines will soon be held at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong. But before that epic event, there was an equally epic pre-event activity to proudly introduce the main event this June 20 to 22, 2014.

The 13th Philippine Toycon 2014 Epic Launch and press con was held this Saturday, May 31, 2014 at the Newport Mall of Resorts World Manila. This was the time when most toys and cosplay fans, collectors and enthusiasts gather again at the famed Resorts World to witness an introuction to an event filled with toys, cosplays and other thrills.

The most recognizable and crowd-drawing images and cosplay characters in the gathering were the Batman family of characters led by Batman himself, along with Nightwing, Robin, and the Batgirls. These cast of characters is what makes the Batman phenomenal as we all know that these are ordinary human beings with no special powers except for fighting skills and a plethora of cool gadgets and awesome vehicles.

Master Game Face Community Night: "2nd Place Ain't So Bad" Basketball Trivia Quiz Night

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Master Philippines under Unilever, together with MRM/McCann as the organizing group, invited selected basketball communities to a Master Game Face exclusive launch this May 31, 2014 6:30pm at Skinny Mike’s Sports Bar located at 32nd St. corner Justice Drive, Bonifacio Global City.

After a hearty meal, where my favorite was the pizza and pasta dishes, MRM/McCann started the night with some videos referring to the Master Game Face Challenge, and the introduction of a representative from Master Philippines who shared with us more details about the campaign. His colleague further ignited the flaming interests with more facts about the game app og which Master Philippines is promoting on Facebook.

Since Skinny Mike's is well-known for quiz nights, it was expected that the main activity of the night will be to challenge our brain cells for some hard-hitting questions. Attendees were asked to form ourselves into a minimum of three, and a maximum of five, and come up with a team name to join a challenging quiz night filled with a lot of basketball trivia.

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#Selfie #Pinay #FingerUpYourAss

I've read that Raissa Robles has very little but strong words to say about the latest FHM Philippines cover this June 2014. The rant was specifically aimed, not on the mickey mouse ears headband, but towards the tattooed words "Pinay" on her.

"Whose bright idea was it to tattoo the word “Pinay” on Erika Padilla’s thigh?

If this is a real tattoo on Erika’s thigh, then I will say nothing more about it. That is her right to free expression.

But if that’s a tattoo you placed there simply for the photo shoot, then you are all jerks for stereotyping us Pinays with Erika’s photo.

I mean, don’t you see? She has floppy breasts. And if she wants to flaunt them in all their floppy splendor, then that’s her choice. But don’t make her represent half the Philippine population.

I know you want to be hip and all that, being the local version of the British magazine FHM.

If that’s an artificial tattoo, that’s a really tacky and thoughtless thing you did. We are not all as vacuous as THAT.

And “Pinay” does not mean sex object." -Raissa Robles

Is Gift-Giving Still a Good Marketing Investment?

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Is your PR budget being “realigned”? Before you trim or worse, scrap your budget for corporate gifts, think again.

Shrugging off corporate gift-giving as an unnecessary expense may be one of the biggest branding mistakes you can make. With the ever-increasing competition across all sectors and industries, that little token might just be the final push that your brand needs to get its message across.

A restricted budget is simply an invitation to explore your creativity. Rather than just considering the cost, think about the perceived value of an item, anticipate the needs of the recipient, or even re-think the packaging for a more customized look. Most importantly, make sure whatever you’re giving reflects well on your brand.

Sounds complicated? Not really. Simplify your life and find what you need by visiting Corporate Giveaways 2014 at the SMX Convention Center on July 9-11, 2014.

The Corporate Giveaway Buyers’ Show on Business Gifts, Premiums, Promotional Ideas and Merchandise Incentives is an annual event held every July to help companies prepare for holiday and year-round gift-giving needs. This event will definitely be beneficial for Purchasing Marketing, Advertising and PR professionals, along with business owners, event managers, wedding planners, and the like as suppliers of quality and creative gift items will all be gathered under one roof.

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"Pansamantala nating nilisan ang kapitolyo ng Laguna upang panatilihan ang kaayusan at katahimikan sa Lalawigan ng Laguna. Base na rin sa paki-usap at payo ng aking tiyuhin at dating Pangulo Joseph "Erap" Estrada tayo ay pansamantang bumaba bilang gobernador upang hintayin ang ating apela sa Supreme Court para sa TRO o status quo order sapagka't ako ay naniniwala na magiging patas ang kanilang hatol at papakinggan ang boses ng 550,000 na lagunense na naglagay sa akin sa katungkulan bilang ama ng lalawigan. Nawa tayo ay patuloy na magdasal at magkaisa para sa ating minamahal na Lalawigan ng Laguna!" - ER Ejercito

Even when Ramil Hernandez stepped in and declared himself as the new governor after the COMELEC has disqualified the current governor for overspending during the elections, ER Ejercito was still determined to stay as governor. But it took his uncle, former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada to finally convince him to step down for the sake of peace and order.

Erap even told the people that the same situation happened to him during his term as president when he voluntarily stepped down to avoid further turmoil, but thern he said also that "the Agila will return" (and so he did as Mayor of Manila), the same with ER when he said "the Lawin will return!", but maybe not as governor again, like his uncle, probably getting another position in government.

Abangan ang pagbabalik ng mga "Angry Birds."

Quanta Paper Presents R3RUN: The Run for Sustainability

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Your friendly neighborhood pambansang blog is supporting another fun run activity to be held this coming August 10, 2014 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Roxas Boulevard Manila. We caught one of the organizers looming around the Jasmine Curtis-Smith fans day so we took the opportunity to air our support towards our beloved young actress and her endorsements.

The eco-friendly tissue paper manufacturer in the Philippines organizes the most aggressive green campaign fun run dubbed as R3RUN for Sustainability or also called as R3RUN (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle Run). You have to sign up to sustainability as it's all up to us if we want to live in a better world.

Participants will range from students, government officials and employees, artists and TV personalities, corporate partners and green advocates from all walks of life. And of course, we expect event endorser Jasmine Curtis-Smith, also the Company’s brand endorser for its new sanitary napkin product, to be there joining in the activities.

There will be four race categories, namely 1km and 4km (carrying the Company’s sanitary napkin brand, Perfect), and 8km (carrying the Company’s institutional brand, Eco-Hygiene), and 12km (carrying the Company’s flagship brand, Fresh).

Wazzup Pilipinas is proud to be an online media partner of the R3RUN for Sustainability.

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When I learned about Norman Black as brand ambassador of the leading power tools brand Skil , and that he is coming to the 90th anniversary celebratory campaign dubbed as “May Tiwala Ako” press launch, I had to block of my schedule immediately.

The popular basketball icon is a great choice as an ambassador to the Skil line of products. Loyal users of Skil products, who have placed their trust in the brand, should be able to look up to someone that has an equally great reputation in his field of expertise.

And if you want to talk about someone to look up to, then with Norman Black's intimidating height, you really need to look up.

The "May Tiwala Ako" campaign centers on building long-term relationships with the brand’s consumers and pays homage to its real users which include the professional workers, freelancers, small scale businesses, and tradesmen.

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At a fans day gathering held at Shangri-La Restaurant in West Triangle Quezon City, Jasmine Curtis Smith, the equally talented and shining-as-bright younger sister of Kapamilya ABS-CBN's Anne Curtis Smith, reveals to her fans the run of a new television series on her Kapatid TV5 channel.

JasMINE is a first-of-its-kind television series formed out of the partnership among Ace Saatchi & Saatchi (creative content), Unitel (line producer) and TV5. The TV series is a romantic drama series with a touch of suspense. It's actually a TV series-within-a-TV series, where Jasmine plays the role of a fictional version of herself as among a TV network's promising young actress.She is posed to be the on-screen partner of the network's hottest hunk actor, Alexis Vergara played by actor Vin Abrenica.

But the story becomes more interesting when she doesn't get the role she auditioned for in the network's flagship TV project called Ur Loved. Adversity among her fellow actress who surprisingly get teribbly hurt from an accident, and the revelation of a stalker named Maskara made the TV series a bit more interesting and in the midst of becoming suspenseful as we try to figure out the identity of the masked stalker.

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In a marathon session lasting until close to midnight, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved several transportation projects last night, said Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Abaya.

“We are pleased that we can now proceed with these projects. They will modernize our country’s transportation systems, and boost travelling convenience, safety, and efficiency for the people. Our hard work today will pay off tomorrow, which is why we now have to make sure that they will be bid out, awarded, and implemented at the soonest possible time,” said Abaya.

The following projects were approved:

P 10.618 Billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – the first of its kind in the Philippines, this relatively new land-based system is being introduced by the World Bank, which will finance the project through a loan.

The BRT system, which has been a success in other parts of the world, entails a segregated lane for buses, controlled dispatching, priority in stoplight signaling, fixed stops, and various technical components, all of which are designed to substantially increase passenger mobility.

One of its significant impacts is that its buses will run on fixed schedules, providing riders with greater reliability, efficiency, and convenience.

The project in Cebu will run on a 23-kilometer corridor having 33 stations. It will have 176 high-quality buses. A detailed engineering design (DED) is currently being prepared, and bidding for its construction is scheduled for Q2 of 2015.

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Through the years, Disney had given us entertaining and at the same time genuinely meaningful movies. They never fail not only to amaze us but also impart life lessons with the countless works they’ve created so far.

This year, Disney retells one of our childhood fairytales, Sleeping Beauty, in a way that we might’ve not expected it to be told. It is like a “what if” question answered imaginatively. This variation of the tale tells it from the viewpoint of the villain, who is later proven to be, surprisingly, the hero as well.

Maleficent is definitely worth the watch. Maybe it’s just me being a fantasy lover, but it is now one of my favorite movies. The imaginary world is well portrayed as well as the actuality of the real world. The movie succeeds in leaving the viewers a new perspective on the well-known children’s fairytale we all know and miss. Like it says, it “tests you how well you know the tale.”

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Now on its 3rd year in the Philippines and with 17 branches in NCR to serve you, Papa John's gives you more reasons to enjoy its great-tasting pizza with the launch of the new Chicken Carbonara Pizza!

The new Chicken Carbonara Pizza comes with crispy bacon in creamy carbonara sauce and a blend of Parmesan, Romano, and Mozzarella Cheeese, topped with grilled chicken, onion bacon and mushroom at a party size price of P485!

We were invited to the launch held on May 29, 2014, Thursday, at their Tomas Morato branch in Quezon City, and got to taste for the first time their new pizza offering that taste just like your favorite chicken carbonara. It's a dining experience worth trying out by every pizza and carbonara lover. Your two favorite dishes combined into one feast.

We were also given a quick demonstration on the pizza making process as one of their crew showed us a glimpse of how a Hawaiian pizza is made. They told us what really makes Papa John's stand out among other pizza restaurants. I have a video of the actual demonstration so please do watch and learn from the experts.